Design Features to Accelerate the Higher-Order Assembly of DNA Origami on Membranes

• DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.1c07694
• Publication Date: 2021-11-24T19:13:44Z
• Authors: Yusuf Qutbuddin; Jan-Hagen Krohn; Gereon A. Brüggen...; Johannes Stein; Svetozar Gavrilovic; Florian Stehr; Petra Schwille
• Keywords: DNA origami; DNA nanotechnology; Superstructure; Nanometre

Nanotechnology often exploits DNA origami nanostructures assembled into even larger superstructures up to micrometer sizes with nanometer shape precision. However, large-scale assembly of such structures is very time-consuming. Here, we investigated the efficiency superstructure on surfaces using indirect cross-linking through low-complexity connector strands binding staple strand extensions, instead scaffold loops. Using single-molecule imaging techniques, including fluorescence microscopy and atomic force microscopy, show that low sequence complexity allow formation lipid membranes, an order-of-magnitude enhancement in speed superstructures. A number effects, suppression hairpin formation, high local effective site concentration, multivalency are proposed contribute acceleration. Thus, use sequences for higher-order offers a simple but efficient way improving throughput design.